Gloucestershire fire bosses have welcomed the Government's New Year cost-cutting review of fire services country-wide.
As one of the UK's most cost-effective fire services, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service says it welcomes the announcement that the Government's outgoing Chief Fire and Rescue Advisor Sir Ken Knight will lead an efficiency review this year.
The review, which seeks to identify further savings and improvements across the country, will take in the views of local authorities, fire officers, trade unions and other emergency services.
It will particularly consider the scope for increased use of shared services, flexible staffing, new technology and preventative approaches to fire safety.
Gloucestershire's Chief Fire Officer Jon Hall says the review will be an opportunity for the county service to show just how cost-effective it already is and demonstrate its huge success in making a series of savings in recent years.
Jon said: "We pride ourselves on being a highly successful service and, from the comments we receive, I know that local communities hugely value their firefighters. However, we consistently cost residents less than any other comparable fire and rescue service in the UK.
"We have made a series of challenging efficiencies in recent years to ensure we give Gloucestershire the very best value for money. And we are always looking at ways in which we can protect the most vulnerable people in society while maintaining that value for money."
The latest figures from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) in its comparison of costs for the 56 fire and rescue services in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland calculated that Gloucestershire's Fire and Rescue Service costs residents £35.33 per person per year, or just 68p per week – the lowest of all comparable Fire and Rescue Authorities.
Of the neighbouring counties, Oxfordshire's service cost residents £38.56 and Warwickshire's £44.23 per year.
The service leads the way in making efficiency savings by:
• Outsourcing all elements of its business that don't directly contribute to fire and rescue operations.
• Working closely with other organisations wherever they can add efficiency.
• Adding capacity and value through professional alliances with other responders.
In addition, this year the service officially opened its four new community stations, designed to improve response times while simultaneously driving further efficiencies.
Councillor Will Windsor-Clive, Gloucestershire County Council cabinet member for communities, said: "The Knight Review is a great chance to highlight all the ways in which we have already led efficiency savings in the county service. Such savings are never easy when you are dealing with people's lives, but we are proud of our achievements and will be happy to share the lessons we have learnt as a service."
As one of the UK's most cost-effective fire services, Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service says it welcomes the announcement that the Government's outgoing Chief Fire and Rescue Advisor Sir Ken Knight will lead an efficiency review this year.
The review, which seeks to identify further savings and improvements across the country, will take in the views of local authorities, fire officers, trade unions and other emergency services.
It will particularly consider the scope for increased use of shared services, flexible staffing, new technology and preventative approaches to fire safety.
Gloucestershire's Chief Fire Officer Jon Hall says the review will be an opportunity for the county service to show just how cost-effective it already is and demonstrate its huge success in making a series of savings in recent years.
Jon said: "We pride ourselves on being a highly successful service and, from the comments we receive, I know that local communities hugely value their firefighters. However, we consistently cost residents less than any other comparable fire and rescue service in the UK.
"We have made a series of challenging efficiencies in recent years to ensure we give Gloucestershire the very best value for money. And we are always looking at ways in which we can protect the most vulnerable people in society while maintaining that value for money."
The latest figures from the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) in its comparison of costs for the 56 fire and rescue services in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland calculated that Gloucestershire's Fire and Rescue Service costs residents £35.33 per person per year, or just 68p per week – the lowest of all comparable Fire and Rescue Authorities.
Of the neighbouring counties, Oxfordshire's service cost residents £38.56 and Warwickshire's £44.23 per year.
The service leads the way in making efficiency savings by:
• Outsourcing all elements of its business that don't directly contribute to fire and rescue operations.
• Working closely with other organisations wherever they can add efficiency.
• Adding capacity and value through professional alliances with other responders.
In addition, this year the service officially opened its four new community stations, designed to improve response times while simultaneously driving further efficiencies.
Councillor Will Windsor-Clive, Gloucestershire County Council cabinet member for communities, said: "The Knight Review is a great chance to highlight all the ways in which we have already led efficiency savings in the county service. Such savings are never easy when you are dealing with people's lives, but we are proud of our achievements and will be happy to share the lessons we have learnt as a service."